§ 21. Mr. Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what length of training is given to a police recruit before he is assigned to normal police duties.
§ Mr. BrittanIn general police recruits are given an initial training course of 10 weeks in a Home Office police training centre. Thereafter they are given further training in their force, and on patrol are accompanied by an experienced officer—normally for a further two months—before going out on patrol on their own.
§ Mr. StoddartDoes the Minister agree that that is completely inadequate? Is he aware that the police have a difficult job to do when they get out on the beat? They are on their own to a large degree. They have to undertake a public relations exercise. Will he hold an inquiry into the length of police training to make sure that it is adequate?
§ Mr. BrittanI do not agree with the hon. Gentleman. He has taken no account of the fact that all forces have a continuous training programme for probationary constables—that is those in the first two years of service. All probationers return to a police training centre for two weeks of continuation training at the end of 18 months' service. Those facts put the matter into perspective.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonIs my hon. and learned Friend satisfied with the level of police recruiting generally?
§ Mr. BrittanIt has been extremely good, largely as a result of the implementation of the second part of the Edmund-Davies report by the Government as an early priority.